Motives for Choosing Studies as Predictors of Career Plans of Tourism and Recreation Students

Abstract

The decreasing number of students at the Polish education system, the expectations of the labor market and the needs of employers are forcing the higher education system to make changes in programs and models of teaching. Upon graduation, a student should be prepared to meet the increasing demands of the employment market, which expects graduates to have high professional and language competencies, related to, among others, modern technologies. The aim of the research conducted at the Faculty of Physical Culture and Health Promotion of the University of Szczecin was to ascertain the motives for the students’ choice of studies in the field of Tourism and Recreation in the context of their career plans. 49 first-cycle students and 39 second-cycle students aged between 20 and 25 were examined. In the study the diagnostic survey was employed, with the use of the techniques of questionnaire, observation and interviews. For the statistical inference frequency of characteristics, chi-square test of independence and multiple correspondence analysis were applied. It was found that the most important motives for studying Tourism and Recreation were interest in physical recreation, love of traveling, and desire to explore the world and disseminate a healthy lifestyle through active recreation. Students who chose the field of study consistent with their interests were planning to find jobs in a profession consistent with their education.

Keywords

• career plans
• motives for studying
• tourism and recreation